"Are you ready?" Syd asked me while our car was parked in front of their house.

I held her hand tightly and smiled, feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement simultaneously. "I don't think I have any choice. It's too late to back out."

"I swear, you don't have to worry, babe. They will love you."

We are at her parents' rest house in Pampanga right now. Since tomorrow is her parents' golden wedding anniversary, some of her brothers had booked their flights back here in the Philippines. Even her workaholic eldest brother Kuya Yvan, scheduled this day just to be present on their parents' anniversary and renewal of vows.

Tomorrow is not just a simple wedding anniversary but also a family reunion as well. That's why each family member made a way to be here even there's a pandemic and lockdown. Just thinking about it makes me want to freak out.

Oh, wait, I'm actually freaking out na pala!

I love their daughter so damn much, and I absolutely admire how they raised Syd. I want to impress them, especially her parents.

"Just relax, be yourself," Syd said and kissed my forehead. She loves kissing my forehead to calm me down.

"Babe," I gave her a serious look before freaking out again. "I may look cool and cute outside but you know me, I am dying inside!" I said out of frustration. "A forehead kiss is not enough, I want here," I told her and pouted my lips.

She chuckles and heeds my request. "Mahal kita."

"Mahal na mahal kita."

And the moment we stepped out of our car, I reminded myself to remain calm. Wala pa namang namatay sa meeting the family occasion, right?

But as soon as I entered their house, I couldn't help but feel small. Compared to our rest house in Batangas, theirs just screams luxury.

From their interior design that has touch of white and gold — and god-knows how expensive their fixtures are — they definitely exceeded top-of-the-line hotels! It's more of a luxurious hotel than a rest house to be honest.

It was so astonishing that I might just start drooling.

I knew Syd was rich, that she came from a different kind of rich. A generational wealth — old money type of rich. But right now, all the stories that I heard from her and all the articles that I read online suddenly hit me. This is real! She is indeed part of the Crazy Rich Asian family!

I tried to compose myself and smiled as we walked towards her parents.

Hours passed and the dinner surprisingly felt light; it eased my nerves a bit. I did not hear any business or political related conversation but rather echoes of laughter. We had a catch-up conversation, mostly kwentuhan about their grandchildren. But of course, the family dinner would not be complete if they will not talk about their parents' version of Romeo and Juliet love story.

Actually, the love story is no longer new to me. I heard it already from Syd back when we are in our first year of being together. But still, I am excited to hear it firsthand from her parents.

"Naaalala ko pa, Ima always checks my room every night just to make sure that.... I won't sneak," Tita Gil said as she reminisced the memories from the past. "Of course I am a teen too, I want to experience going out and sneaking out just to see someone..." she added as she smiled while looking at her husband, Tito Federico.

"At ako naman, grabe rin ang kaba ko na your father will kill me... Shoot me, kung sakaling makita niya tayo sa bayan, sa diskohan..." He added.

"Just like Romeo and Juliet... His family despises us, the Pinedas.... But, wala e... We love each other, tanggap namin ang isa't isa... Even though he knows my flaws, he still loves and protects me."

I was just smiling the whole time. Love is not really dead. Even they are old and they are now in their golden anniversary, the sparks, the kilig, it did not change.

I am also glad that Tita Gil was comfortable sharing their photo album to me after our family dinner. 

"Babe, pabalik na 'yong album," I told my girlfriend, handling her all the three big photo albums.

"Ikaw na, she loves you. I am sure she'll love to see you again. Baka may ikwento pa."

I smiled. I really feel like I am part of their family, I cannot wait to marry this woman someday. "Eh, saan ba?"

"Diretsuhin mo lang 'yung hallway sa gilid. The first door you'll see on the right side, that's their room."

I followed her directions, and since her parents' room is located in their first floor, I am confident that I won't get lost in their house. I already saw the door that she's talking about, but in my surprise... I hear someone whimpering.

A cry from a man's voice.

I am sure it's Tito Federico because the sound comes from their room. I do not want to get involved in their situation, but I can't help it.

One step forward.

Just a step closer.

And another.

"Mahal na mahal kita, sobra... sobra... I cannot afford to see you unhappy.... Alam kong siya ang tunay na magbibigay sa'yo ng saya..."

"Feder—"

"Gil, ayaw kong mabuhay ka nang ganito... Ayaw kong sayangin mo ang natitira mong taon ng hindi masaya, na hindi siya kasama... Kaya please.... Tomorrow, at our wedding anniversary..." 

There was a long pause.

A silence.

"Will you not marry me?"

"Mahal kita, Federico..."

"Oo, alam ko 'yon. Pero mas mahal mo siya. Mas sasaya kay Esmi... kay Esmeralda at gusto kong magkaroon kayo ng sarili niyong happy ending."

***

Author's Note:

I used "Mafia-style Domination: The Philippine Province of Province of Pampanga '' as a reference. It's a research paper written by Peter Kreuzer. In order to connect the mafia plot here in the context of Philippine settings.

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263526190_Mafia-style_Domination_The_Philippine_Province_of_Pampanga

Gusto ko rin i-shoutout (emz!) ang mga wattpad friends ko, chikading <33 for helping me uwu <333 thank you for pushing me to write this entry and correcting my grammar kasi boba gorl acoe!!!!

I know simple lang ang entry kong 'to, nothing special but this is really challenging for me dahil first time ko sumubok ng english medium at magsulat ng 1st person point of view pero hindi sa kanya ang sentro ng theme ng kwento.